Mo Farah

Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge will return to the London Marathon in 2018 after a year’s absence, resuming his quest for a third victory in the event, organisers said on Thursday.

The Kenyan was just eight seconds off the world record of 2:02:57 when retaining his title in 2016 and he clocked 2:04:42 when winning the year before.

“The Virgin Money London Marathon is a race that holds very special memories for me. I won it in 2015 and 2016 and both are days that I will never forget,” said Kipchoge, who went on to win the Olympic marathon title in Rio before becoming the fastest marathoner in history with 2:00:25 clocked in Monza during a Breaking2 attempt that cannot be ratified for record purposes.

“I came so close to breaking the world record in 2016 and it is natural for anyone in that situation to think of what might have been. But that race gave me the confidence to go on and win the Olympic title in Rio and run so well throughout 2017.”

Kipchoge joins fellow Olympic champion Mo Farah of Britain in confirming his intention to run the London Marathon on April 22.

The elite race co-ordinator, Dave Bedford, said he would never arrange the race to help Farah and that bringing to London the Olympic champion, whom he called “the greatest marathon runner in the history of our sport”, proved it.

“No one can ever accuse me of trying to fix a race to make it easier for anyone,” said Bedford. “Athletes do truly say that winning the London Marathon is harder than winning the Olympic Games and when you see the further contestants we have over the coming weeks you will agree with that.

“It will really underline the fact that while I am charge of the elite field at the London Marathon no one will ever get an easy time of it and that doesn’t matter whether they are British or the Olympic champion.”

Kipchoge, who won four global medals over 5000m on the track including world gold in 2003, said: “It does take time to make that switch but I’m sure Mo will be successful. It’s great he will be racing the London Marathon next year because I’m sure that will make the atmosphere even more special.”

Kipchoge, who was the 5,000m world champion at 18 and also won Olympic medals on the track before moving up to the marathon, told Farah that he also had to be prepared to suffer. “When I was on the track the training was very little but intensive. When I really made my transition to marathon I got a big surprise for you have go for a long run and then you have to go for huge track workouts.”

In May, Kipchoge ran an astonishing 2:00.25 for the marathon as part of the Nike Sub2 project, which did not count as an official world record as it featured pacemakers that dipped in and out of the race. He said there were no plans to try again in an attempt to become the first person to go under two hours. “But I hope in the future it will be really possible,” he said.

Britain’s two fastest half marathon runners of all time, Mo Farah and Callum Hawkins, will face each other at The Big Half, a new half marathon event in London on Sunday 4 March.

Farah – the multiple world and Olympic champion over 5000m and 10,000m – will begin the new road-racing chapter of his career at The Big Half as he prepares for the Virgin Money London Marathon in April.

Hawkins, who was fourth in the marathon at this year’s IAAF World Championships in London, will be looking for further success on the streets of the capital.

“I am thrilled to be part of The Big Half,” said 34-year-old Farah, who retired from racing on the track after winning the IAAF Diamond League 5000m title in Zurich. “It will be an ideal preparation race for me for the London Marathon six weeks later. Everyone knows I love running on the streets of London and I look forward to this new event.

“It’s fantastic for British Athletics that we now have a new generation of runners like Callum coming through who are able to compete at the top end of world-class races. I hope my achievements over the years have shown them what is possible.”

Farah and Hawkins last faced each other at the Great Edinburgh X-Country in January, when Hawkins finished 45 seconds ahead of Farah.

“I am really looking forward to The Big Half now I know I will get the chance to race Mo again,” said Hawkins, 25. “I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love testing myself against the very best athletes in the world and they don’t come any better than Mo.

Callum Hawkins wins the Marugame Half Marathon. Photo: Getsurikui

“Racing in London is always so special. The crowds are amazing and it has brought the best out of me in the past. I qualified for the Rio Olympics at the 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon which was really my breakthrough race and then finished fourth in the marathon at the 2017 London World Championships, so I’m always confident when racing in the capital and I’m hoping I can enjoy more success in March.”

Farah’s European record of 59:32 was set in March 2015 while Hawkins ran a PB of 60:00 in Marugame this February, taking him to second on the UK all-time list and fourth on the European all-time list.

“It is great for British distance running that we now have an athlete of the calibre of Callum Hawkins who can provide a very real domestic competition for Sir Mo,” said event director Hugh Brasher. “I can’t wait for the race on Sunday 4 March.”

The Big Half starts by Tower Bridge and finishes in front of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Further international athletes will be announced in the coming months.

Mo Farah will start his career as a full-time road runner by taking part in a London half marathon early next year before tackling the full distance around the British capital in April, according to The Times.

The 34-year-old Briton, a quadruple Olympic and six-time world champion, competed in his final track race in August and announced he plans to compete in his third London Marathon on April 22.

The half marathon, named The Big Half, will be held on March 4 and is expected to be Farah’s first event since replacing his controversial coach Alberto Salazar with Gary Lough.

Farah holds the British record for a number of distances, including the half marathon, and will be aiming to lower Steve Jones’ current British marathon mark of two hours, seven minutes and 13 seconds.

Mo Farah and Laura Muir were named athletes of the year by the British Athletics Writers’ Association (BAWA) when the organisation presented the country’s longest-running annual track and field awards in London on Friday (November 17).

Farah took the male athlete of the year prize for a record seventh time following a final track season that saw the 34-year-old claim his 10th global title by winning the 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships in London in addition to victory in the Simplyhealth Great North Run.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist, who is building toward next April’s Virgin Money London Marathon, topped the voting ahead of world 4x100m gold medallist and Diamond League winner CJ Ujah with relay team-mate Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake third.

Muir was named female athlete of the year at the close of a season that saw the Scot claim double gold in the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade over 1500m and 3000m before finishing fourth in the 1500m at the IAAF World Championships as well as sixth in the 5000m.

While also completing her veterinary degree, she claimed British outdoor records in the mile and indoors over 1000m and 5000m. Muir edged out Dina Asher-Smith and Asha Philip, two members of Britain’s 4x100m squad that took silver at the World Championships.

Dame Mary Peters received the Ron Pickering memorial award for services to athletics for her work in providing opportunities in supporting talented young sportspeople and the community at large in her native Northern Ireland. The 78-year-old, who won pentathlon gold at the 1972 Olympics, continues to be active in her charitable sports trust.

Jonnie Peacock took the male para athlete of the year award for the second successive time after a season that saw the 24-year-old Paralympic champion regain his 100m T44 world title in London.

Wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn landed the female para athlete of 2017 prize for the first time. The 21-year-old gained her maiden global titles with 100m and 200m T53 gold in London in addition to 400m bronze and a clutch of world records throughout the year.

High jumper Tom Gale won the Jim Coote memorial award for junior male athlete of the year following his bronze medal at the European Under-20 Championships and a string of strong showings amid senior competition.

The Lillian Board memorial award for junior women went to sprint hurdler Alicia Barrett, who landed silver at the European Under-20 Championships and secured the British senior title over 100m hurdles.

Perri Shakes-Drayton took the BAWA inspiration award after battling back from a career-threatening knee injury in 2013 to be part of the GB 4x400m team that won world silver in London this year.

Ahead of next week’s IAAF Athletics Awards 2017 where the World Athletes of the Year will be announced, we revisit the achievements of the men’s finalists.

MUTAZ ESSA BARSHIM

The Qatari high jumper was one of the most consistent and dominant athletes of the year.

Starting with a 2.35m leap in Jeddah in April and ending with a 2.40m jump in Eberstadt in August, the 26-year-old pieced together an undefeated season across 11 competitions.

He won the world title in impressive fashion, clearing all of his heights up to his winning mark of 2.35m on his first attempt. One week after his triumph in London, he jumped a world-leading 2.40m in Birmingham and followed it four days later with a winning jump of 2.36m in Zurich to secure the IAAF Diamond League title. Barshim ended the 2017 season with nine of the best 11 jumps in the world this year, capped by his two 2.40m leaps. He is the first high jumper in history to leap 2.40m or higher in five successive years.

MO FARAH

The British star secured a record 10th successive outdoor global distance-running title on the track and it was arguably his hardest-fought one to date. He was under pressure from three opponents on the final lap of the 10,000m at the World Championships but managed to secure victory in a world-leading 26:49.51, his fastest ever time in a championship final and just three seconds shy of his own European record.

His World Championships track career ended in the same way it started: with a silver medal. In a 5000m final that was every bit as competitive as the 10,000m earlier in the championships, Farah finished a close second to Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris.

Two weeks after the World Championships, Farah secured the IAAF Diamond League title at the distance in Zurich in another memorable finish, this time getting the better of Edris to end his track career on a high.

WAYDE VAN NIEKERK

The South African sprinter enjoyed another record-breaking year in 2017. Of all the athletes who competed in two disciplines at the IAAF World Championships, Van Niekerk came closest to achieving a double triumph.

He first retained his 400m title with relative ease, winning in 43.98. Two days later, contesting his sixth race within five days, he finished a close second in the 200m in 20.11, missing out on gold by just 0.02.

Earlier in the season he had set a world-leading mark of 43.62 for 400m, clocked a national record of 19.84 over 200m and achieved a 100m PB of 9.94. In so doing, he became the first athlete in history to run faster than 10 seconds for 100m, 20 seconds for 200m and 44 seconds for 400m within one season.

He also set a 300m world best of 30.81, breaking a mark that had stood for 17 years.
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VOTING PROCEDURE FOR 2017 WORLD ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

A three-way voting process determined the finalists. The IAAF Council and the IAAF Family cast their votes by email, while fans voted online via the IAAF’s social media platforms. The IAAF Council’s vote counted for 50% of the result, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes each counted for 25% of the final result. Voting closed on 16 October. The World Athletes of the Year will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017 in Monaco on Friday 24 November.

World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri is disappointed after being excluded from the final list of three women for the 2017 IAAF World Athlete of the Year awards.

Obiri whose performance saw her win the 2017 Diamond League Series in 5,000m/3,000m questioned the criteria used to select the final three saying it was suspect and questionable.

Obiri said she was consistent compared to some of the athletes who made the final list at her expense.

“I maintained my consistency the whole year, winning the World title apart running two fastest times this year in Rome (14:18.37) and Shanghai (14:22.47) in 5,000m,” said Obiri.

Obiri’s compatriot World 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi who topped the polls also failed to make the final list for men’s top award.

Manangoi and Obiri, were missing from the final list released by the IAAF on Monday after the final round of voting.

Olympic 10,000m champion Ethiopian Almaz Ayana, who won gold in 10,000m and silver in 5,000m at the World Championships in London, World pole vault champion Ekaterini Stefanidi (Greece) and Nafissatou Thiam (Belgium), who also won gold in heptathlon at the World Championships, made it in women’s contest.

Ayana got 16, 305 votes on social media voting while was third with 6 464 behind Belgium’s Niafi Thiam (6,552).

The World high jump champion Bahrain’s Mutaz Essa Barshim from, World and Olympic 10,000m double gold medalist Britain’s Mo Farah and Olympic and World 400m winner South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk made it to the last three in the men’s category.

Manangoi topped the social media voting with 90,000.

The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards Gala on November 24, this year in Monaco.

A three-way voting process determined the finalists where the IAAF Council and the IAAF Family casted their votes by email, while fans voted online via the IAAF’s social media platforms.

The IAAF Council’s vote counted for 50 per cent of the result, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes each counted for 25 per cent of the final result. Voting closed on October 16.

After topping the International Athletics Associations Federation (IAAF) online contest for the 2017 IAAF Male Athlete of the Year, World 1500m champion, Kenya’s Elijah Manangoi has not been nominated on the final list that has been released by IAAF today 6, November.

The surprise inclusion is the World 10,000m champion Mo Farah of Great Britain whom Manangoi managed to beat by 96, 300 against Farah’s 1,015.

The final list of the three male finalists include South African 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk,Farah and Qatar high-jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim.

In the women category South Africa’s World and Olympic 800m Champion Caster Semenya has also been dropped after ganering 5,435 online votes Katerina Stefanidi retained after she pulled 4,316 online votes.

THERE was no time for Callum Hawkins to dwell on collecting the FPSG scottishathletics “Athlete of the Year” title on Saturday night at a star-studded gala occasion in Glasgow.

While the trophies were forthcoming for the Hawkins clan – dad Robert won Performance Coach of the Year as well – the Champagne and late night that usually accompany such events was something the marathon man sidestepped.

From picking up awards on Saturday evening, Hawkins was picking up his passport again yesterday, heading back out to France to train, but only after he’d completed a session closer to home.

If 2017 was a year to remember for the 25-year-old, then his focus now is firmly on 2018, the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Down Under, and the possible showdown on the road against multiple Olympic gold medal winner Sir Mo Farah.

“I’m always ready to take on Mo; I’m always ready to take on the best. But I think it will be good when I actually get to race him,” said Hawkins, who ran a PB of 2.10:17 in finishing fourth in the 2017 World Championship marathon in London.

“Hopefully. I’m always up for racing the best in the world and I’m not going to shy away from that – and Mo!” laughed Hawkins, who for good measure, and still chuckling confirmed no less than three times; “and Mo is one of the best in the world.”

Hawkins, who genuinely looked overwhelmed and surprised that he had landed such a prestigious honour, took time out after his gruelling summer schedule – and found another Brit has emerged as a challenger for Gold Coast and beyond.

During his down time, Hawkins saw Welshman Dewi Griffiths surpass the Scot’s London time by 28 seconds in Frankfurt. So, has Griffiths raised the bar further?

“Yes and no,” was Hawkins’ slightly coy response. “He ran phenomenally, but I always knew Dewi had it. But I didn’t think he’d be quite that quick. Maybe low 2.10’s – but he’s definitely made me want to go out and get my times down. But that is going to be tough with the championships.

“I know I can so something similar, time wise,” said Hawkins, who believes it isn’t always about racing the clock.

“In a big city marathon, then yes. In a championship, it’s a bit more tactical and a bit harder to predict who is going to come out on top, say compared to 100m, because we don’t really race that much.

“The marathon is so unpredictable, anything can happen. Conditions can be a factor, or you could get a small niggle. You just don’t know, or what shape people are in.”

Hawkins is himself getting back into shape, and already has his card marked in the build up to the Commonwealth Games – and that means no cross country this winter.

“I only came back [to Glasgow] on Thursday,” he said, breaking his training schedule in France to pick up his award at the weekend.” But the legs are starting to click in now, compared to a few weeks ago. I took a break after the Scottish and it took a wee while for the legs to come back.”

He added, “I’m back to France, then it’s the Seven Hills race [in the Netherlands] in two weeks’ time – I’ve never run 15k – and then I’ve got a few races lined up next year. Then I’ll be out to the Gold Coast, probably about six weeks before, getting used to the heat.

“Unfortunately, the Euro cross falls a week or two after I start my block for the marathon, so it would postpone that, and I want a big, proper block for the Commonwealth Games.

“I’ve got a few 10k races, one half marathon – in Britain, I’ll say that much – so a few races. But everything is geared towards Gold Coast.”

And before heading for France, Hawkins admitted he thought he was a fortunate winner of Scottish athletics’ biggest accolade.

“It’s been a good end to the year. It was a tough category though. I think anyone could have won it, pretty much eeksy peeksy,” said Hawkins, nominated alongside Eilish McColgan, Laura Muir, Chris O’Hare and Para Athlete of the Year, Sammi Kinghorn.

“It is pretty flattering to be put on top of all those great people. I wouldn’t personally put myself there. But I think everyone on that list would probably say the same,” said Hawkins who was quick to offer up his “winner.”

“It’s got to be Sam. She had a brilliant year; a double gold medallist. But, I’m still proud to be up there and mentioned with them.”

Hawkins received a standing ovation on Saturday night, the kind of acknowledgement he doesn’t always witness when running.

“Personally, I don’t get to see it – I tend to keep myself to myself and just run. You tend to see it a little bit at local championships, but the chance to see it, massed, I don’t know if I can put it into words – athletics is such a great community,” said the almost shy, but deserving winner.

While many other end-of-year honours are picked by various panels of experts, the Athletics Weekly athletes of the year awards are judged by you, the readers.

So here is your chance to have your say. There are 10 categories covering the leading British and international athletes, plus categories for masters and ‘best British breakthrough’.

We also have a new category this year where you can choose the winner of a lifetime achievement award.

There are no prizes with these awards but athletes will have the satisfaction of knowing they have the support of the most knowledgeable athletics readership in the world.

Usain Bolt:

The world’s greatest ever athlete bowed out at the World Championships in London, coming third in the 100m and pulling up injured in the relay. The 11-time world champion won the IAAF world athlete of the year six times between 2008 and 2016.

Ruth Beitia:

The 2016 Olympic high jump champion is a three-time European champion and was a world finalist as long back as 2003. She made the world final at London this year but was not a medal contender and announced her retirement.

Mo Farah:

The most successful world championships endurance runner in history exited the track with a 10,000m gold and 5000m silver from London.

Christine Ohuruogu:

A poor 2017 as her international career ended but she is one of Britain’s greatest female athletes with Olympic 400m gold, two world titles and a mass of 4x400m medals.

David Rudisha:

The 800m world-record holder and double Olympic 800m champion only managed four races in 2017 but he dominated 800m running from much of 2009 to 2016.

Christian Taylor:

he American hasn’t managed any world records yet and is far from retiring, but he is the first triple jumper to win five global titles after two Olympic golds and winning his third world title in London.

Retained his world 10,000m title and claimed 5000m silver, going on to win the Diamond League title for the shorter distance in Zurich before switching his attention to the roads and winning his fourth consecutive Simplyhealth Great North Run title.

Eliud Kipchoge:

The Kenyan further reinforced his position as arguably the finest marathon runner of all time, clocking 2:00:25 for 26.2 miles during Nike’s controversial ‘Breaking2’ attempt and going on to win the Berlin Marathon again in 2:03:32.

Wayde van Niekerk:

The South African (left) claimed world 400m gold and 200m silver, ran the world-leading time of 43.62 for the one lap event and was second fastest in 2017 at 200m. His 30.81 300m broke a 17-year-old world best.

Mutaz Essa Barshim:

Undefeated in 2017, the Qatari high jumper achieved the three best clearances of the year, led by his world-leading 2.40m, and nine of the best 11, winning the world title and Diamond League title on the way.

Luvo Manyonga:

The best long jumper in the world this year, the South African soared out to 8.65m and had eight of the best nine leaps. Undefeated this summer, his wins included world and Diamond League titles.

Omar McLeod:

The world 110m hurdles champion clocked a world-leading Jamaican record of 12.90 to move him to joint fifth on the all-time list. The top three times this year were run by him, and five of the top six.

Christian Taylor:

His 18.11m in Eugene in May was the best in the world this year and the American’s win in London saw him secure his third world triple jump title.

Johannes Vetter:

In a competition which saw a remarkable series of PBs, the German javelin star threw 94.44m to move to second on the world all-time list and he backed that up with a world championships win.

INTERNATIONAL FEMALE ATHLETE

Caster Semenya:

Dominated the 800m in 2017 with an undefeated streak that included the world final. The South African also clocked the fastest time in the world for nine years with 1:55.16 and at 1500m finished third in the world final.

Joyciline Jepkosgei:

On the roads the Kenyan set a world 10km record of 29:43 in Prague before improving her half-marathon mark to 64:51 in Valencia.

Maria Lasitskene:

Competing under the neutral flag, the Russian went undefeated in the high jump all year, winning world gold and taking the Diamond League title. Her best of 2.06m moved her to equal No.5 all-time, too.

Anita Wlodarczyk:

Undefeated in the hammer in 2017, the Polish athlete threw the second-best mark in history of 82.87m and took world gold in London.

Nafissatou Thiam:

After setting a world lead of 7013 in Gotzis to move to No.3 on the world all-time rankings, the Belgian heptathlete won the world title in London in style.

Hellen Obiri:

The Kenyan won the 5000m title and took the Diamond League series during a season that saw her unbeaten at 5000m. She set world leads at 3000m and 5000m, too.

Sandra Perkovic:

The Croatian’s season’s best of 71.41m was the best women’s discus throw in the world since 1992,
while in addition she won the Diamond League and took the world title in London.

Katerina Stefanidi:

Set a Greek record of 4.91m to go equal fourth on the world all- time lists in addition to being undefeated all year in a season that saw her clinch global gold and Diamond League series victory.